Sausage bander

ABSTRACT

A bander for sausage or similarly cylindrically shaped articles including means for dispensing and cutting a pressure-adhesive backed label, wrapping the label around the sausage, sealing the label to itself and ejecting the sausage. The preferred embodiment is operated by lever means, and may be either handpowered or driven by external power.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Lyle L. Hendrix Carthage, S. Dak. 57323 [211 App]. No. 872,888 [22] Filed Oct. 31, 1969 [45] Patented Dec. 7, 1971 [54] SAUSAGE BANDER 6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] 0.5. Ci 156/540, 156/215,156/481 [51] Int.Cl B65c 3/04, B32b 31/18 [50] Field olSearch 156/215, 468, 475, 540-542, 523, 526, 527, 552, 577, 481, 576, 584; 100/17, 25, 26

' 1 99 g c :"i Z '1. g 76 I I I i 1*. E (5, 1 m'mz'mmzmmzr Primary Examiner Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-James M. Hanley Attorney-Lucas .l. DeKoster 156/576X 156/481 X 156/215 X ABSTRACT: A bander for sausage or similarly cylindrically shaped articles including means for dispensing and cutting a pressure-adhesive backed label, wrapping the label around the sausage, sealing the label to itself and ejecting the sausage. The preferred embodiment is operated by lever means. and may be either hand-powered or driven by external power.

PATENIED DEC 7 I97l SHEET 1 OF 3 mvmoa. BY Ln 6 L. HE/VOF/X His Atty.

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PATENTED DEC 7 I971 SHEET 3 [IF 3 INVENTOR.

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1 SAUSAGE BANDER BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to machines for applying labels to small cylindrical articles such as wieners, sausages or the like.

Recent legal requirements have made necessary the labeling of a certain percentage of meat products such as sausage, by the application of a label to the article itself. This can be done by hand, but such application is tedious and time consuming.

By my device I provide a hand-operated machine-to which power could be applied if desired-adapted to receive a sausage, dispense a label after removirig the backing strip, roll the label about the sausage and seal it to itself and then eject the sausage, all by one stroke of a crank-type lever.

FIGURES FIG. 1 is a top plan view of my machine with a portion of the housing broken away to show underlying parts,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view also with a portion of the housing broken away,

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the label-cutting knife assembly removed from the machine,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view from line 4-4 of Fig. 1,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view from line 5-5 of Fig. 1,

FIG. 6 is a detailed sectional view showing the label cutting knife assembly and mechanism from line 6-6 of Fig. 2,

FIG. 7 is a sectional view from line 7-7 of Fig. 2, and

FIG. 8 is a detailed sectional view with certain parts removed to show selected operating mechanism.

DESCRIPTION Briefly my invention comprises a banding machine having a continuous supply of pressure-adhesive backed labels having backing strips. By the operation of a crank through a series of gear-operated or cam-operated mechanisms, the label is advanced, the backing strip is stripped off, the label is cut to predetermine length, and then is wrapped around a cylindrical article. Means are provided to press the label in place to that it will adhere to itself on the article and to return the article to a position from which it can easily be removed from the machine.

More specifically and referring to the drawings, my device is enclosed in a case 10 surrounding the mechanism and the label roll 11. A take up roll 12 is journaled in an upper cover 13 for the case which is preferably hinged to the main case 10 for ease of replacing the label roll 1 l and of removing the take up roll 12 when it becomes full. A latch means 14 may be provided to hold the cover 13 closed.

The principal actuating means for the device is a crank 15 fixed to shaft 16 journaled in the case. Also fixed to the shaft 16 are an operating arm 17 and a mutilated gear 18. The operating arm 17 is the motivating means for the object-handling mechanism, and the gear 18 operates the label-advancing mechanism.

The label-advancing mechanism is best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. As the crank 15 is moved, the shaft 16 rotates the mutilated gear 18. This gear, where the teeth are not broken out, meshes with apinion 19, attached to a roller 20. Also attached to the pinion 19 is a pulley adapted to drive a spring belt 22. The belt 22 in turn drives the take up roll 12. As is well known in the art, the spring belt 22 is adapted to slip if the force resisting turning becomes greater than normally required, and therefore will pull the roll at a differential rate depending on how much material is to be taken onto the roll 12 during any cycle.

The roller 10, which is positively driven through the gear 18 preferably has a knurled or similarly roughened surface. A similar idler roller 25 is held against the first roller by a spring 26 (Fig. 2) thus forming a means by which a tape of paper or similar material may be pulled between the rollers.

A roll 11 of labels is'placed in the lower central part of the case 10, and is partially surrounded by an inner shield 27. The labels are protected by a backing strip 28 in a manner well known in the art. The complete dual strip runs from the label roll 11 over a rounded part 29 of the shield, thence under a separator strip 30. This strip has an edge which is rounded with a relatively small radius, so that it provides a smooth edge around which the backing strip may be pulled, but sharp enough so that the principle label strip 32 continues ahead in the original direction. The backing strip extends between the rollers 20 and 25 and is pulled thereby, and runs from thence to the take up roll 12 on which it is wound.

It will now be apparent that as the crank 15 is pulled, the gear 18 will operate through the pinion l9 and rollers 20 and 25 to pull the backing strip a measured distance, determined by the number of teeth in the gear, with each stroke of the crank. As the gear reaches the mutilated portion, the pulling will stop and the label-advancing mechanism is at rest while other mechanisms are operative.

These other mechanisms include a label cutoff mechanism, an object drop and return mechanism and an object rolling mechanism which presses the label in place. All of these mechanisms are cam-operated, and are actuated by the operating arm 17. As noted before, this arm is fixed to the shaft 16. The main operating cam 34 (Fig. 1&2) is rotatably journaled on that shaft and is biassed to its starting position by a tension spring 35 engaged between the cam 34 and the case 10. The starting position is preferably adjustable so that the stroke of the crank 15 can be longer or shorter. From the previous description of the label advancing mechanism, it will be seen that a longer stroke would result in longer engagement between the pinion l9 and the teeth of the gear 18, thus feeding a longer label from the roll. Therefore, the adjustability of the starting position makes possible the use of varying length labels.

The means by which the starting position is adjusted consists principally of an adjustable stop means whereby the cam is stopped at a determinable position against the biassing force of the spring 35. This stop includes a stop arm 37 fixed to the cam 34 and a post 38 adjustably disposed in a slot 39 in bolt extending through the slot and clamped to the case by a wing nut, but many other mechanisms can be envisioned by those skilled in the art.

Movement of the cam 34 against the urging of the spring 35 is accomplished through engagement of the operating arm 17 with a peg 40 on the cam. Since the arm 17 is fixed to the shaft 16 and the peg 40 is on the cam 34, it will readily be seen that such engagement will cause the cam 34 to rotate with the shaft after engagement. Since engagement is delayed by the spacing of the arm from the post at the beginning of travel of the crank, it will be evident that the label is at least partly advanced before the cam starts its travel.

The cam 34 operates several mechanisms either directly ro through auxiliary cams affixed to it. One of these mechanisms is the object drop and return mechanism. This mechanism consists principally of a pair of object supporting arms 42 and 42' fixed to shaft 43 journaled on an inner wall 44 (Fig. 7) of the case. The arm 42' adjacent the cam 34 includes a bell crank arm 45. A roller follower 46 is journaled on the arm 45 and is positioned to engage the outer surface of the cam 34 at a sector 47. This sector is formed to cause a rise as the cam is advanced, thus causing the follower 36 to rise and the object supporting arms 42 and 42' to fall thus lowering any object on the arms.

The label-cutting mechanism is operated from the same cam and follower combination. To accomplish this, a knifeoperating arm 49 is fixed to the shaft 43, and therefore is operated by the same shaft which operates the arm 42 and 42'. This knife arm 49 terminates in a knife engaging finger 50. The knife assembly 51 (Fig. 3&6) fits into a slot 52 in the inner walls 44 of the case 10, and may be held in place simply by the friction of a snug fit or by any other desired means. The outer frame 53 is formed to provide a central opening 54 through which the label strip 32 extends. Knife means 55 also formed to provide a similar opening is slidably journaled in grooves in the inner edges of the frame 53. At its upper inner edge, the knife means includes a cutting edge 56 having at least one point 57 which will puncture the label strip to start to clean cut thereof. An opening 58 is provided in the knife means in positioned to be engaged by the finger 50 on the operating lever 49. Thus, as the lever 49 is forced downward, the finger 50 enters the opening 58 and by engagement with the lower edge of that opening, pulls the blade downward forcing the point 57 and the rest of the edge 56 through the label strip, cutting therefrom a single label.

The means for returning the knife blade to its upper or normal position is also linked to the operating arm 49. This means includes a lever 60 is linked to the joumaled on an axle 61 fixed in the walls 44. The lever 60 is linked to the arm 49 by a pivotally connected link 62. The lever 60 is biassed to an upward position by a tension spring 63 engaged between the lower end of the lever and one wall 44. Thus, the entire knifeoperating assembly is urged to its normal position by that spring. The knife itself is returned to its upward position by engagement of the lower edge 64 of the knife with the upper surface 65 of the lever 60.

The object rolling mechanism which rolls the label about the object and presses it in place consists primarily of a tape 67 and the operating members adapted to move it in the proper sequence. This tape may be formed of plastic or cloth, and is fastened at one end to a pin 68. This pin may be selectively placed in any of a series of vertically spaced holders 69 (Fig. 8) to provide adjustment as will be explained hereafter.

From the pin, the tape extends under and around a takeup roller 70, thence upward and over one end of a closing member 71. The tape then extends across the object receiving opening 73 in the case 10, and over the stationary pin 74. From this pin 74, the tape hangs downward and is tensioned slightly by the pull of a weight 75 held at the other end of the tape.

Operation of the rolling mechanism is controlled by the main cam means 34. As best shown in FIG. 2 the roller 70 is carried at the end of the takeup arm 76. This arm is fixed to an axle 77 joumaled in the walls 44. Also fixed to the axle 77 is a follower arm 78 carrying a roller takeup follower 79. This follower is broad enough to engage both the tensioning cam member 80 and the surface 81 of the main cam 34. A spring 82 attached to an extension 83 of the follower arm 78 urges the follower 79 into contact with the cam surfaces.

A second follower in the form of a bar 85 slidably joumaled between protrusions 86 on the wall 44 also engages the cam surface 81. At its other end the bar is pivoted to a crank arm 87 which is in turn fixed to an axle 88, again joumaled in the walls 44. A closure operating arm 89 is also fixed to this axle so that slight rotation of the axle causes nearly linear movement of the outer end 90 of that arm. The outer end 90 is split, and receives a tang 91 fixed to the closure member 71. Rollers 92 and 92' are joumaled on pins 93 at each end of the member 71. These pins extend laterally beyond the member 71 and are slidably disposed in grooves in the walls 44. Thus the member 71 is slidable relative to the case 10. As in the other cam follower mechanisms, the follower arm 85 is held in contact with the cam surface 81 by the biassing force of a spring 95.

The operation of the rolling mechanism is somewhat more complex than that of the other mechanisms since it involves two cam followers and three cam surfaces. Referring to FIG. 2, it will be noted that as the cam 34 is turned, the roller follower 79 soon drops off the cam 80 into contact with the surface 81. This drop causes the arm 76 to rise under urging of the spring 76. The rise of the arm 76 allows the tape 67 to release its tension and the weight 75 (FIG. 8) drops to the floor 97 of the case and rests there, thus completely relaxing the tape. However, at the same time as this is happening, the arms 42 and 42' are being lowered as described above and are carrying the object downward. The object then will contact the tape and depress it into the opening 73. Also, during this time, the label strip 32 has been advanced over the tape and under the object with the adhesive surface adjacent the object. At about the point in the motion at which the supporting arms 42 and 42 are dropping, the label strip is cut to provide a single label to be wrapped around the object.

As the cam 34 is rotated further, the follower bar enters a dropping portion of the surface 81 causing the closure member 71 to advance over the opening 73 and carrying the tape 67 around and over the top of the object. This in effect closes the opening '73 and wraps the tape 67 substantially around the object. Further motion causes the takeup cam portion 98 to push the follower arm 78 quickly away from the center of the cam, thereby moving the takeup arm 76 sharply downward. This downward pull on the tape necessitates a movement of the tape from somewhere, and since one end is fixed to the case by the pin 68, the tape is taken up from the other end. Doing this, however, requires a pulling of the tape around the object causing a rolling motion thereof. Since the label is slightly stuck to the object, and since there is friction between the label and the tape, this rolling action causes the label to be rolled around the object as the object is rolled, and if the label is long enough it will be pressed back on itself to adhere not only to the object, but also to itself.

It will be noted that the tape 67 is fastened at one end 99 to the case. This fastening is adjustable to a variety of positions varying the length of the loop in which the roller 70 is engaged. It will be apparent that as the loop is lengthened, the amount of the tape pulled will be increased, thus making allowance for the rolling of larger or smaller diameter objects.

Release of the operating crank 15 causes the entire mechanism to return to its original position thus ejecting the object which can then be removed and a new one placed for the next operation. It should be noted that clutch means (not shown) of a type well known in the art is necessary between the pinion 19 and its adjacent roller 10 so that reversal of the mechanism does not reverse the label-extending mechanism, but rather replaces it to the position where it can again extend the label on the next stroke.

Iclaim:

1. A label-applying machine adapted to wrap a label about an object comprising in combination; a case, label-advancing mechanism in said case, label-cutting mechanism comprising a framework removably mounted in said case adjacent to said label-advancing mechanism, knife means slidably mounted in said framework and movable from a normal open position to a cutting position, arm means pivotally mounted in said case engageable with said knife means to move said knife means from its open position to the cutting position, lever means mounted in said case and pivotally attached to said arm means, said lever means being positioned to engage said knife means, biassing means connected between said lever means and said case to bias said lever into engagement with said knife means whereby said engagement is effective to return said knife means from a cutting position to its open position after displacement by said arm means, an object supporting mechanism and a label applying and rolling mechanism, and unitary operating means including gears and cams in said case and attached to each of said mechanisms and said arm means whereby each mechanism performs its function in timed relationship to the other.

2. A label-applying machine adapted to wrap a label about an object comprising a combination; a case, label-advancing mechanism in said case, label-cutting mechanism mounted in said case adjacent to said label-advancing mechanism object supporting mechanism in said case, label applying and rolling mechanism in said case adapted to receive a label from said label-advancing mechanism and including a tape adapted to be depressed by said object, closure means movably mounted in said case adapted to be moved from an open to a closed position, said closure means being adapted to engage said tape and wrap it substantially completely about said object while in a closed position, pulling means engaging said tape adapted to pull said tape while in the closed position to cause said object to roll within said tape, and unitary operating means including gears and cams in said case operably connected to each of said mechanisms and said closure and said pulling means whereby each operates to perform its function in timed relationship to the other.

3. A label-applying machine adapted to wrap a label about an object comprising in combination; a case, label-advancing mechanism in said case, label cutting mechanism in said case adjacent to said label-advancing mechanism, object supporting mechanism mounted on said case, label applying and rolling mechanism and unitary operating means in said case including a shaft joumaled in said case, crank means on said shaft adapted to operate it, mutilated gear means fixed on said shaft, pinion means connected to said label-advancing means and engaged with said gear means whereby said label-advancing means is operated through said gear means, said gear means being mutilated by removal of certain teeth, thereby becoming disengaged from said pinion during part of the travel of said gear means whereby the operation of said label advancing mechanism is stopped, cam means rotatably journaled on said shaft, a peg on said cam means, operating arm means fixed to said shaft adapted to engage said peg as said shaft starts is operated to move said cam means at a spaced interval after said shaft starts to turn, first follower means on said label-cutting mechanism engaged with said cam means whereby movement of said cam means operates said cutting mechanism in timed relationship with said label-advancing mechanism, said supporting mechanism being fixed to a part of said cutting mechanism and operated the said label applying and rolling means including a tape, closure means engaging said tape and adapted to close said tape around said object, second follower means engaging said cam and operably connected to said closure means to operate the closure means in timed relationship to the cutting mechanism, the advancing mechanism and the supporting mechanism, third follower means engaging said cam means, pulling means engaging said tape and operated by said third follower means in timed relationship to all other mechanisms.

4. The device of claim 3 in which said cutting mechanism includes a frame mounted in said case adjacent to said label-advancing mechanism, knife means slidably mounted in said frame adapted to move from a normal position to a cutting position, arm means operably connected to said first follower means and engageable with said knife means to slide said knife means in said frame from said normal position to said cutting position. i

5. The device of claim 3 in which said tape is adjustably held at one end whereby adjustments may be made for objects of varied sizes 6. The device of claim 3 in which adjustable abutment means is attached to said case, stop arm means fixed to said shaft adapted to engage said abutment means to define a starting position for said shaft, said starting position being thereby adjustable whereby the length of motion of said label-advancing means may be varied.

#1 F i III 

2. A label-applying machine adapted to wrap a label about an object comprising in combination; a case, label-advancing mechanism in said case, label-cutting mechanism mounted in said case adjacent to said label-advancing mechanism, object supporting mechanism in said case, label applying and rolling mechanism in said case adapted to receive a label from said label-advancing mechanism and including a tape adapted to be depressed by said object, closure means movably mounted in said case adapted to be moved from an open to a closed position, said closure means being adapted to engage said tape and wrap it substantially completely about said object while in a closed position, pulling means engaging said tape adapted to pull said tape while in the closed position to cause said object to roll within said tape, and unitary operating means including gears and cams in said case operably connected to each of said mechanisms and said closure and said pulling means whereby each operates to perform its function in timed relationship to the other.
 3. A label-applying machine adapted to wrap a label about an object comprising in combination; a case, label-advancing mechanism in said case, label cutting mechanism in said case adjacent to said label-advancing mechanism, object supporting mechanism mounted on said case, label applying and rolling mechanism and unitary operating means in said case including a shaft journaled in said case, crank means on said shaft adapted to operate it, mutilated gear means fixed on said shaft, pinion means connected to said label-advancing means and engaged with said gear means whereby said label-advancing means is operated through said gear means, said gear means being mutilated by removal of certain teeth, thereby becoming disengaged from said pinion during part of the travel of said gear means whereby the operation of said label advancing mechanism is stopped, cam means rotatably journaled on said shaft, a peg on said cam means, operating arm means fixed to said shaft adapted to engage said peg as said shaft is operated to move said cam means at a spaced interval after said shaft starts to turn, first follower means on said label-cutting mechanism engaged with said cam means whereby movement of said cam means operates said cutting mechanism in timed relationship with said label-advancing mechanism, said supporting mechanism being fixed to a part of said cutting mechanism and operated the said label applying and rolling means including a tape, closure means engaging said tape and adapted to close said tape around said object, second follower means engaging said cam and operably connected to said closure means to operate the closure means in timed relationship to the cutting mechanism, the advancing mechanism and the supporting mechanism, third follower means engaging said cam means, pulling means engaging said tape and operated by said third follower means in timed relationship to all other mechanisms.
 4. The device of claim 3 in which said cutting mechanism includes a frame mounted in said case adjacent to said label-advancing mechanism, knife means slidably mounted in said frame adapted to move from a normal position to a cutting positIon, arm means operably connected to said first follower means and engageable with said knife means to slide said knife means in said frame from said normal position to said cutting position.
 5. The device of claim 3 in which said tape is adjustably held at one end whereby adjustments may be made for objects of varied sizes.
 6. The device of claim 3 in which adjustable abutment means is attached to said case, stop arm means fixed to said shaft adapted to engage said abutment means to define a starting position for said shaft, said starting position being thereby adjustable whereby the length of motion of said label-advancing means may be varied. 